Frank Stella’s Gran Cairo is a striking example of his geometric abstraction style, which he developed in the early 1960s. The painting consists of four concentric squares, each divided into four smaller squares by thin gray lines. The squares are filled with vibrant colors, ranging from yellow and orange to blue and purple, creating a dynamic contrast and a sense of depth. The painting is named after the Egyptian capital, Cairo, which Stella visited in 1962 and was inspired by its architecture and culture.
The painting is part of a series of six prints called Multicoloured Squares, which Stella made in an edition of 100 in 1972 at Gemini G.E.L., a print workshop in Los Angeles.
The painting is currently in the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York
Gran Cairo is a remarkable work that showcases Stella’s mastery of color and form, as well as his interest in exploring different cultures and places. The painting invites the viewer to appreciate its geometric beauty and its subtle references to the history and art of Cairo.
